Why Is Everyone Talking About Chia Seed Water?

The world is complicated, but your trends don’t have to be. Logging onto social media and being bombarded by meal prep that looks Michelin level, while being inspired (or shamed, you can’t decide which) into getting in your protein and your fiber and 10k steps a day and 8 hours of sleep and, and, and? When even just scrolling is overwhelming, we love a simple trend. Shoving a piece of cheese into a potato. Dumping cooked rice directly into your rotisserie chicken bag. The primal, accessible things. And now trending? Possibly one of the simplest of all: chia seed water. The fiber queens love it. The culinarily incompetent love it. The world seems to love it. 

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I cheer, you cheer, we all cheer for chia water. But, what exactly is it?

What is chia seed water?

It’s this kind of overthinking that’s burning you out. Chia seed water is, most basically, chia seeds mixed into water. 

How to make chia seed water

What did we tell you about overthinking? Put chia seeds into (preferably warm) water, stir them around a little to prevent clumping, and let them bloom for 15 to 30 minutes before drinking. You can add citrus juice, salt, ginger, or other flavorings if you prefer. Go crazy. Or don’t! That’s seriously it! In fact, building out this section much more would feel too much like we’re back in high school trying to meet the word count, which was sometimes really, really, really, really difficult. 

Why drink chia seed water?

We love when a viral trend encourages basic human needs, like hydration. Point chia seed water. Partaking in the trend inherently means you drink a big, ol’ glass of water. There are also claims about the benefits of chia seeds themselves, which are said to contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, support a healthy gut microbiome, promote satiety and fullness, help regulate blood sugar, provide consistent energy throughout the day without spikes and crashes, and be loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. 

Precautions

Chia seed water can be great, but a word of warning to those who aren’t regularly locked in when it comes to fiber intake: start slowly. Going 0 to 60 on added fiber can cause digestive discomfort like bloating, so ease into living so intimately with nature’s broom. Start with 1 teaspoon of chia in 4 ounces of water and work your way up to 2 tablespoons in 24 ounces of water in about two weeks. There’s also no need to drink it every day. It’s tempting, especially with something as simple as chia seed water, to tout it as a quick fix, but every belly is different. See how it affects yours before going full steam ahead.